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Bulldogs have nothing to hide: Hasler

Steve Jancetic

Ben Barba had the look of a man on the run, but Canterbury coach Des Hasler said the NRL club had nothing to hide over the early-season suspension imposed on the star fullback.

Barba conducted an impromptu fitness test on his injured ankle at Sydney Airport on Wednesday as he bolted up the stairs in a bid to avoid the waiting media - increasing speculation he could be a late inclusion for the Bulldogs against Brisbane on Thursday night.

Hasler kept his cards close to his chest on Barba's fitness, but was far more forthcoming in relation to the NRL integrity unit's probe into the club's standing down of the Dally M medal winner back in February.

At the time, the Bulldogs said Barba was being removed from football to deal with personal problems.

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Breaking his silence on the matter, Hasler backed the process undertaken by the Bulldogs, in light of allegations of an alleged assault on a female the day before Barba was suspended.

A photo showing blood coming from the victim's lip accompanied the report, Hasler standing by the club's actions.

"I'm very comfortable with the procedure that the club has taken," Hasler said.

"Obviously the alleged photo is disturbing but, at the same stage, the club never has received any complaint or any plaintiff in relation to that allegation."

Hasler confirmed Barba's partner Ainslie Currie came to the club to voice concerns regarding the star fullback.

"At the time, when she came to us to speak, she came looking for support," Hasler said.

"I was quite happy with the procedure the club went through."

Hasler's willingness to talk was in stark contract to the actions of former Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg, who matched Barba's elusiveness when quizzed by the media.

In his new role as the NRL's head of football, Greenberg was front and centre at a media conference on Wednesday morning to announce the new Auckland Nines, but was in no mood to talk about his role in the Barba suspension.

New Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle confirmed the NRL integrity unit had not yet been to the club's Belmore offices, where it is believed it will gather documents relating to Barba's suspension.

Skipper Michael Ennis refused to go into the club's handling of the incident, but rejected talk Barba had fallen out with teammates.

"There's certainly no issue with Ben and any of the players," Ennis said.

"It's all in the hands of the integrity unit at the moment.

"Our club are doing everything they can from their end.

"For us as players, it's about us getting on with the job.

"It's a critical time of the year for us."

And they might have Barba back on deck for that run in, judging by the way he moved at the airport.